Lake County, Illinois DUI Attorney

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What should I do if I’m pulled over for suspected drunk driving?

• Contact a Lake County DUI lawyer as soon as possible.
• Be polite to the officer, but do not discuss what you have had to drink and when. The officer may ask you questions about where you were, where you are going, if you had anything to drink, and more. Your answers to these may only harm the outcome of your case and as such it is best to politely refuse to answer any questions.
• Do not submit to field sobriety tests.
• Politely refuse to submit to a breath test.

What can an attorney do to help me?

The right Lake County DUI attorney will make an immense, positive impact on the outcome of your case. An attorney can immediately review your situation, determine what can be done to help, and then get started in protecting your rights and interests to minimize the negative consequences of a Lake County DUI arrest and conviction.

Will I go to jail if I’m convicted of DUI?

Imprisonment is a possibility in any Illinois DUI case, even for a first time offender. Under Illinois law, a first DUI conviction may result in up to one year of imprisonment as well as other penalties. Specific terms of imprisonment and other penalties will vary depending upon the particular circumstances of your case, as well as the jurisdiction. A lawyer can help you avoid maximum penalties and may be able to help you avoid a conviction or even formal criminal charges altogether.

Will I lose my driver’s license?

If convicted of DUI in Lake County, Illinois, you will lose your driving privileges for a set period of time. A first DUI conviction may result in license suspension and vehicle registration suspension for up to one year, and suspension periods for second and subsequent convictions will be even longer.

Should I refuse a breath test?

In general, our advice is to refuse not only a breath test, but to refuse field sobriety testing as well. We also recommend that you do not answer the officer’s questions about what you drank, when you drank, etc. as these may only be self-incriminating.

What is the legal limit in Illinois?

In Illinois, a driver may not operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater. However, a driver under the age of 21 may be considered DUI if they operate a vehicle while with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. A driver of a commercial vehicle may be arrested for a BAC of .04% or greater.

What if my blood alcohol level was far above the legal limit?

If a driver is found to have an excessively high BAC (such as .16% or greater) he or she will face increased penalties, including a longer term of imprisonment, more community service, higher fines and more.

Contact a Lake County DUI lawyer at Fagan, Fagan & Davis today if you have questions about DUI in Illinois and need skilled representation.